SAMBHAV 2018: Enthralled by ALPANA's work Justice Mishra decides to rededicate for Divyangjan

New Delhi: Justice Dipak Mishra while inaugurating SAMBHAV 2018, the three day international event by and for artists with disability in the national capital said, as an Advocate that is before he joined the judiciary, he always espoused the cause of persons with disabilities. He added that after witnessing the disabled artists from 17 countries of the world at a major event like SAMBHAV he has decided to rededicate himself to the cause of Divyangjan, being pursued by the New Delhi based organization, A.L.P.A.N.A. He said that the dedication of the artiste, professionals, media and other practitioners is exemplary in the international event.

The fact that Divyang persons are more able than others has been proved year after year by the Delhi based NGO, Association for Learning Performing Arts and Normative Action (A.L.P.A.N.A.), since 2006 when SAMBHAV was launched as a platform for showcasing the artistic talents of Divyang persons.

SAMBHAV has become a platform for learning across cultures and territories, not only within India but also across the world. It has created a space of creativity for each other. Over the years SAMBHAV has grown manifold and expanded its ambit to project India as an inclusive country which is not only incredible but also inclusive. In his special message to A.L.P.A.N.A., Prime Minister Narender Modi has appreciated SAMBHAV for “providing the platform to our Divyang sisters and brothers to showcase their talents.”

SAMBHAV which means “possible” was conceived and started in 2006 by A.L.P.A.N.A. to help promote inclusive arts within the context of inclusive growth. SAMBHAV showcases artistic empowerment of specially talented persons. The objectives of SAMBHAV are to promote inclusive growth and be a catalyst in fulfilling commitments of the global society towards persons with disability, to showcase inclusiveness of Indian society, to empower challenged persons, particularly artists, through development of skills and enhancement of creativity in various fields of arts and to work towards sharing of ideas, knowledge, achievements and experiences through sustainable interactions among different stake holders.

A.L.P.A.N.A. is an all-India operations registered NGO with the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Within a short span of its coming into being, A.L.P.A.N.A. has made significant contributions to its espoused cause of promoting Indian heritage including performing arts and crafts, with an inclusive and holistic view of society. For this very reason, A.L.P.A.N.A. provides teaching in these art forms in classes that comprise of able-bodied persons, low-income background persons, as well as persons with a range of different abilities.

The NGO A.L.P.A.N.A. has also pledged to work on many socially relevant issues through research and analysis, documentation, dissemination, building human and intellectual capital and advising on matters of public policy formulation. The NGO has also integrated and highlighted yoga as an input in the classical dance lessons for Divyang and other persons.

The thirteenth edition of SAMBHAV being held this year is supported by Government of India Ministries of Tourism, AYUSH, Culture, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) etc., and has attracted groups from FOUR CONTINENTS that included Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Iran, Kenya, Mauritius, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, UK, Uzbekistan and Vietnam besides groups from Indian States of Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telengana and West Bengal.

The three day event, SAMBHAV 2018 which had a gala opening and colorful start on 2 November 2018 at India International Centre, Lodi Estate, New Delhi presented on its second day a unique seminar on holistic approaches to disabled persons. Experts and practitioners from Manila, Ujjain, Moscow, Tashkent, Colombo, Dushanbe, Dhaka, S-VYASA University, AIIMS, Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare emphasized the need of approaching disability issues before child birth through a variety of interventions which involve the wider society. The role of the largest health and nutrition programme in the world, India’s Poshan Yojana was discussed as a strategy to address disability.

In the Seminar on Yoga, Prof Gautam Sharma and Prof Rima Dada form AIIMS New Delhi presented two monumental papers based on their evidence based research themes highlighting the positive effects of Yoga. Professor RM Acharya conducted yoga workshop for Divyang artiste at yoga grounds of Lodi gardens.

The international performances at SAMBHAV 2018 had Odissi dance and percussion band by the special students of ‘A.L.P.A.N.A.’; songs by Salubrious Productions, Australia; traditional dances by Vietnam Youth Theatre; dances by Behala Bodhayan Kolkata, acrobatics by Khandwa Diocesan Social Services, Khandwa, M.P., folk dances by IRCS – SAHAYA Cuttack; dance by M.P. Viklang Sahayata Samiti; song and dance by Kaakibatng Autism Society Philippines; dances to Indian nationalist lyrics by Mother Charitable Foundation Sri Lanka; Hindi songs and dance by Tajikistan troupe; Russian folk dances by All Russia Blind Association; keyboard recital by Tehran troupe and folk dances by Myanmar troupe. The performances by the specially gifted persons at the event of International Performances of SAMBHAV 2018 were like a picture of perfection.

The Divyang participants in SAMBHAV 2018 were taken on Exposure Visits to Schools in NCR where interaction with school students on inclusive and composite culture of India was highlighted. Exposure Visits to World Heritage Sites was organized for Divyang artists participating in SAMBHAV 2018 to highlight the fact that Incredible India is also Inclusive India.